A Large Second War Period Photo of field Marshal (Maresciallo d'Italia) Giovanni Messe
A Large Second War Period Photo of field marshal (Maresciallo d'Italia) Giovanni Messe, Receiving Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939; Large photo, 18cm x 24cm, ("Luce" photography logo on bottom left), showing Messe receiving Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939. Giovanni Messe (10 December 1883 – 18 December 1968) was an Italian general, politician, and field marshal (Maresciallo d'Italia). He is considered by many to have been the best Italian general of the Second World War. He served in the Balkans, in Russia and also in Northern Africa alongside Rommel. On 12 May 1943 Messe was promoted to the rank of Marshal of Italy (Maresciallo d'Italia). On 13 May, after the collapse of the 5th German Tank Army, the fall of Tunis and the surrounding of the 1st Italian Army, still holding the line at Enfidaville, he formally surrendered to the Allies.